I’m Going to Throw This Out There…and Then We Never Have To Talk About It Again

Should the Rams sign Pacman Jones? Let’s set the scene. First and foremost, the Rams will need at best (at best) one starting CB this offseason. If Ron Bartell is not resigned, the Rams will need two. The Rams are lacking in talent and ability at CB, so what do I suggest? Let’s kick the tires on Pacman, shall we? Let’s do this like a teenage girl trying to decide between two different boyfriends – Pro and Con!

Pros:

Pacman will come cheap. He is totally disgraced and recently said that he still wanted to play in the National Football League. He will sign for anything – as long as he has a job in the NFL. One year, veteran minimum with heavy off-field behavior clauses. With the Rams cap situation, any savings are good savings.

Pacman was the best corner in Dallas last year.According to Football Outsiders – Pacman was the best CB that Dallas had, allowing completions on only 50% of passes for a 5 yard average. That’s great for a Rams secondary that routinely allowed long bombs down the field to mediocre receivers. He can still play at mid-to-elite corner ability.

Now, the Cons:

Can you say, circus? Getting the Rams covered by ESPN should be for all the good reasons, not for signing Pacman. That leads me into my next point.

He’s a knucklehead and a distraction. I do not know if he is able to stay out of trouble off the field, considering he could not do it with the Cowboys while he was being provided with boyguards by the Cowboys. The Cowboys will tolerate a lot more distraction than a lot of teams and if the Cowboys could not do it, who would? And there is no guarantee that Pacman will be able to stay out of trouble off the field in St. Louis, either.

This is a great chance for the Rams to buy low on a talented football player on the field and complete nincompoop off the field. If he had his life together, he would not be available for the low, low price. However, he has said that he has turned the corner to become and upstanding citizen before…only to get in more off the field trouble. That being said, is he worth the hassle? The Rams need to get younger, better and more solid as a team. Pacman is not going to help that in any way shape and form. He would help the Rams defensive backfield, but he is not worth the distraction. Additionally, Pacman is probably looking for a short-term solution to get his value back up. The Rams need to get better this year and into the future, so that would not help.

Conclusion: Pass, but I had to think about it. He’s just not worth the distraction and extra scrutiny. Plus, the Gentlemen’s clubs in Illinois would have to be on red alert with Pacman in town.